India shocking rituals. Shock, delight and panic! This is India, baby... (50 photos) India has a high death rate
A third world country with the Russified resort of Goa, this is probably the first thought that arises in a typical tourist at the mention of exotic India. But for the author of the project "Your road journalism" Evgenia Chuikina, a trip to the country bright colors Holi has become a challenge to itself. "India is an ideal country for knowing yourself as an individual: it reveals your strengths and shows the weak," Evgenia is sure. However, the processes of cognition take place much later, and on the "first date" with India, you will most likely turn all your attention to something completely different ...
So, if you landed at southern city Chennai, don't be scared when you see:
Guys walking by the hand - they are not gay! In India, the relationship between males is very close, friendly and tender. They can be compared with the relationship between friends in Russia. After all, our girls can walk by the hands, and smack on the lips, and hug each other, but this does not make them lesbians. 
Why do boys act like this in India? Because from childhood to college, boys and girls study separately. Sometimes they just do not know how to start communication with the opposite sex. This raises another question: does it mean that there are many representatives of non-traditional orientation? Yes, they are. And for me, it was culture shock number one, because for such a religious country it is very strange.
Eating (in particular rice) with your hands, as most Hindus do not know how to use a fork or spoon. Cafes and small restaurants have disposable tableware, but not everywhere. All food is served on banana leaves with an iron tray. 
Pissing men (and women too) along the street, in general, where they want to! I have never seen a dry closet in India, so I can understand people in this situation. Although there is always a way out: you can ask to use the toilet in a cafe or restaurant, as a rule, the owners will not refuse you such a service. 
Sleeping people on the road, asphalt, everywhere. The city of Chennai itself is the very south of India, where all year round worth the heat. There are a lot of homeless people, homeless children, street workers, vagrants here. They're in literally live on sidewalks or under bridges, sheltering in boxes. This is a terrible sight. 
Cows in garbage heaps or roads: everything is possible for the sacred! It's no secret that the cow in India is a sacred animal. Before my trip, I thought that these were just fairy tales: how such a large animal can live stray on the street and walk by itself, like a cat. But the stereotype has been broken. It really is. Moreover, what struck me the most was the purity and nobility of these animals: they really behave like gods. 
Lack of curbs and park areas for walking. This fact is not immediately noticeable. I ran into this problem when, returning home from work, I was walking straight along the roadway. The fact is that the roads in India are very busy, there is no subway, the population in such a territory is huge, and they cannot allocate a piece of the road for pedestrians. In addition, there are almost no pedestrians themselves. In India, very few people walk on foot: the main transport is the rickshaw (an open three-wheeled cart without doors). 
Bandages on the faces of the drivers. This is especially noticeable during rush hour, when mopeds, bicycles and motorcycles stand in several rows, and bandanas are on their faces. All because of gas pollution, an excessive layer of dust. If you are allergic to it, then India is not best country for you, or wear masks. 
Flashes from phones and smiling dark faces: you are like a monkey in a zoo, so get used to it! A white-skinned person (and even with blue eyes) is exotic for them. India is a poor country and few people go abroad. And many generally live in the mountains, in tribes, they have no idea what a foreigner is. 
But be prepared for the fact that by allowing one Indian to take a picture with you, you will force a whole queue to line up around you. Wanted to be a star? Voila.
Lack of paper in toilets, both in cafes and at home. Indians don't use it! Truth! They consider paper to be expensive. Instead of paper - a hand. As paradoxical as it may sound, it is. They eat with one hand and wipe with the other. Hindus never confuse their hands: each for its intended purpose. Thank God that at my job toilet paper was, and we bought home. 
Incomprehensible hieroglyphs on signs - this, my dear, is TAMIL! You only need to know two words: vanakkam = hello and nandri = thank you, and you will be your own person! Immediately the prices will drop, and half of India will become your friends.
After two hours of watching a movie in the cinema, no one is in a hurry to leave: the movie show does not end, it's only a 10-minute break! Indian film goes at least 3 hours. 
A lot of fruits and vegetables - this is a country where +30 is stable in winter, you can only enjoy this abundance of vitamins.
Impressive, right? But the most interesting observation that I have noticed after such a set of culture shocks is that India is rich in emotions that it gives to people. It is impossible to be indifferent to this country: you either love it or hate it. What feeling are you experiencing?
In my travels in India, I often encountered the unusual and even shocking. But the more I got to know this country, the clearer and more familiar a lot became. There is no need to try to analyze India or compare it with the West, you can only love it, accepting it as it is.
On the beaches of Goa, everything has long been “sharpened” under white man. It's hard to get to know the real India here, the color ancient country are only numerous merchants, noise in the streets and women in bright saris. For real exotic, you need to go beyond the package tourism zone. Jaipur, Delhi, Rishikesh, Agra and, of course, Varanasi - one of the oldest cities in the world, located on the banks of the eternal Ganges, the birthplace of Shiva, the city in which the Buddha attained enlightenment and read the first sermon.
Cannibal caste
For Hindus, Varanasi is the holiest city on the planet; to die and be burned here is the greatest honor for a Hindu. The ritual of cremation automatically breaks the circle of samsara - eternal rebirth, and frees the human soul, sending it to heaven.
Varanasi is the main place of worship of Lord Shiva. There is a whole caste of his priests, living on the banks of the Ganges, her name is Aghori. Aghori hermits are above all other castes, they do not spend their lives on gaining liberation from the cycle of samsara, they are already born free, therefore they devote their existence to serving Shiva.
One kind of aghori is capable of terrifying a European: a naked body smeared with the ashes of funeral pyres, black tongues, tangled long hair… Aghori do not wear clothes, they only wrap the pelvis with a cloth that covers the genitals, bound with a metal chain: this is how they try to kill their flesh.
Aghori are warlocks, at night they perform rituals dedicated to Shiva, using the remains of people or animals. Hermits feed on unburned corpses from the banks of the Ganges. Varanasi is famous for its outdoor cremations: the burning of bodies takes place on long stone stairs leading to the river. Aghori try to stay close to the fires to collect the remains. After the meal, they rub their tongues with charcoal, which makes them black, just like the goddess of destruction, Kali.
One of the attributes of cannibals is the trident of Shiva, decorated with a human skull, which replaces the cup. Aghori do nothing in their lives, they do not serve in temples, and ordinary Hindus bypass them, being afraid of black magic.
holy hermits
Sadhus are another variety of Indian sages and hermits. They smear their bodies with white paint, wear a minimum of clothing (an orange rag wrapped around their hips), and collect alms. Most sadhus are found in tourist spots in India and Nepal.
Real hermits devote their lives to spiritual teaching. They renounce three of the four goals in the life of any Hindu: kama (sensual pleasures), artha ( material well-being), dharma (duty), and dedicate their existence to only one thing - moksha (liberation). Just like the Aghori, many of them wear iron chains around their genitals, live in the most ascetic conditions; their clothes are ocher, renunciation.
Sadhus are more actively engaged in spiritual searches: they practice yoga, meditation. Many take a vow of silence. Some of them walk with their hand raised above their head, and the hand must always be raised, so for years, through pain, sadhus approach enlightenment. Others choose to stand on one leg for many years as an austerity.
Spiritual seekers who have abandoned worldly life never work, they live only on alms. The hermit's day begins in the early morning with a bath, followed by long mantra recitation and meditation. Many are constantly wandering, moving from one holy place to another. Travel to public transport free for them.
third floor
A year ago, a third gender was officially recognized in India. For such a conservative country, this is a very unexpected step. Now every person can determine his gender.
Despite strict customs and severe morals, in India since ancient times there was a separate group of the population - Hijras, a caste of hermaphrodites, a caste of untouchables. Their fate in society is extremely difficult, the hijras are considered cursed, they are shunned. If such a child is born in the family, most likely the parents will renounce him and give him up for education to other hijras. Sometimes parents leave hermaphrodite children in the family, hiding this secret from other relatives and neighbors in every possible way. However, it is very difficult to hide this all your life: if it turns out that a hermaphrodite is growing in a family, the whole family will be disgraced forever.
Despite the fact that hijras belong to the untouchable caste, they play special role in Indian society. The most senior people come to them for a blessing, they are invited to the most important family holidays such as the birth of a child or a wedding. Not giving alms to the hijra is a disgrace to the Indians.
Members of a caste usually live together in communities. All property is common, money too. The most prestigious work is the performance of religious rites. However, most make money by begging. In large cities, the main hijra income is prostitution. India is extremely conservative. Husband and wife in public should behave with restraint. Only behind closed bedroom doors do people become themselves. Therefore, hijras are an object of fantasy not only for men, but also for women, their sexual services are in great demand.
…India is multifaceted and mysterious. She accepts far from everyone and does not reveal her secrets to everyone. Behind poverty and filth lies the wisdom of many generations. Only to an open heart and pure mind can this country tell its secrets.
Olga REVENKO, photo by Dmitry REUTSKY
Without a doubt, India is considered one of the most beautiful and interesting countries in the world. She still remains a mystery to most, despite the fact that everyone knows about her, about her traditions, cooking, history. Everyone knows that this is a country of contrasts.
And yet in India, in a country with a democracy, mobile phones, the developed pharmaceutical industry and Bollywood, there are many strange and incomprehensible phenomena.
20. This is the largest democracy in the world
It is known that more than a billion people live in India, it is the largest democratic country in the world. It is difficult to imagine such a huge amount of public support for the government, but society, in turn, makes the government work hard. Well, or so it seems! Until now, India has preserved caste system which indicates to each member of society his place. 19. India has 6 seasons
In most countries of the world there are only 4 seasons, there are countries in which even less. For example, in countries located on the equator, it is warm all year round, and vice versa, in countries beyond the Arctic Circle it is constantly cold. In India, there are 6 seasons according to the calendar of Hinduism, the main religion of the country: summer, monsoon season, autumn, winter, pre-spring season, spring. 18. National currency
Unfortunately, the national currency of India, the rupee, is not allowed to be taken out of the country. This news will upset tourists, but it rules out currency speculation. Although locals are trying to export currency and speculate with neighboring Bangladesh, this is all happening on a small scale. More and more people in India are starting to use cards. 17. More than 25% of India's population is illiterate
India is a country of contrasts. In the country, poor and rich, literate and people who cannot write and read live nearby, and such a majestic structure as the Taj Mahal is adjacent to shacks. The country has only 65% of the literate population. There are 45% of literate women and 75% of men. Despite the relatively high literacy rate in India high level poverty. 16. India is growing
The country's population continues to grow. India is said to overtake China by 2028. Already today it has exceeded the total population Western Europe. 15. India was once an island
At the time of Pangea, all the continents were one large piece of land. Thanks to tectonic processes, huge parts began to separate. It was then that India began the journey separately from other parts. Later, she came across the piece that is Asia today and stopped. 14. India has over 1,000 languages
In India people speak 1000 different languages and dialects. A traveler will not be helped by a phrasebook, as many local dialects and languages are radically different. True, most people know Hindi. 13. India has a high death rate
India has the highest death rate in the world. main reason of this phenomenon are traffic accidents. Traffic on the roads in India, especially in cities, is extremely heavy and there is no regulation. It takes talent to maneuver safely between cars, motorcycles, rickshaws, animals, and pedestrians. People die under the wheels of cars or due to suffocation in overcrowded buses. The death rate of newborns and pregnant women also contributes to the high mortality rate due to insufficiently qualified medical care. In addition, they still kill for infidelity and for dowry. 12. India has a thriving film industry
When it comes to cinema, everyone has associations with Hollywood. However, about 1,100 films are released annually in India, which is twice as many as in the US. Believe it or not, most Indian films are not made in Bollywood. Although many people like the colorful, emotional, expressive films of Bollywood stars, this is only a small part of the entire Indian film production. 11. India breaks records
The passion of Indians for records in different areas can be called strange. For example, the Guinness Book of Records holds the record for the largest crocheted blanket in the world. The largest metal peacock in the world was erected in India. The record for the most massive performance of the national anthem was recorded. 10. City of Mumbai
Everyone knows the problem that arises in multi-million cities around the world - this is air pollution from car exhaust, which manifests itself visually in the presence of smog, and physically in shortness of breath. China is most famous for this, but in Mumbai the situation is even worse. Staying in Mumbai or Delhi for one day is equivalent to smoking 100 cigarettes. According to the World Health Organization, 1.5 million people die each year from lung cancer and asthma in these cities. 9. India has the highest number of vegetarians
Although most people in India eat plant-based foods, Indian cuisine has a lot of delicious food from chicken, goat, lamb. But India has the largest number of vegetarians. At the Indian Golden Temple, several thousand free vegetarian meals are handed out daily to the poor and homeless. Be sure to try paneer, naan and biryani - vegetable and rice dishes. 8. 53% of houses without running water and sewerage
In the cities of India, people die under the wheels of cars, from polluted air, and also from unsanitary conditions, since 53% of houses lack running water and sewerage. 7. For a dowry in India, one girl is killed every hour.
Dowry is an ancient Indian tradition. When a guy and a girl are going to get married (very often their parents make the choice for them), the bride and her family give a large sum money for the groom's family. Especially this large sums when through marriage they are going to improve their social and caste position. Unfortunately, because of this money, one girl is killed every hour in India. 6. 70% of the global spice market belongs to India
In every spoon of almost all Indian dishes you can find turmeric, coriander, mustard, cumin, cinnamon, cardamom, chili pepper. Not surprisingly, 70% of the world's spices are of Indian origin. If you want to try an authentic Indian dish, then it is better to visit any Indian family. It takes them hours to prepare a meal. great amount a variety of spices - this art is difficult to learn. 5. Slavery in India
Unfortunately, slavery still exists in India today. The number of slaves reaches 14 million people. For a long time this topic was silent, and no one paid attention to it. People in many countries of the world could not even think that in India there is slavery, which exists due to imperfect legislation, corruption local authorities. Most of the slaves are poor, illiterate women and children who are forced into hard labor and prostitution. 4. India has a high poverty rate
In addition to slaves, there are a lot of poor people in India. A large number of families with children live on the street, collect alms. In India, the average person has to work 14-16 hours to earn little money. On average, they earn up to $1.25 a day. The government is trying to provide benefits to the poor, stimulate the development of agricultural areas and motivate the poor to take up farming, but so far to no avail. 3. Women in India
There are a number of developed countries in the world where the rights of men and women are equally respected. In India, in some families, newborn girls are deliberately killed, as they will not be able to continue the race. Between 100,000 and 500,000 girls are killed annually in the country, just because of their gender. Selective abortions are practiced here, which were officially banned back in 1994. Those girls who manage to survive are often humiliated all their lives by the male population. If we talk about medicine, then more attention and respect, when talking about vaccinations and treatment, is shown to boys and men. 2. India celebrates death day
In accordance with the traditions of Hinduism, which is very common in India, the day of the funeral of the deceased is celebrated and commemorated by relatives. Most often in India, corpses are burned, and at the funeral they are not allowed to drink alcohol or eat meat products, this rule also applies to the next 12 days. The eldest son in the family pours the ashes of the deceased into the water of any reservoir nearby, it can be the ocean, sea, river, lake. Relatives and family friends commemorate the death of the deceased, wishing him a happy afterlife. 1. Milkshake with marijuana
In ancient India, marijuana was used for various purposes. Today it is an absolutely legal action, marijuana is used in different types, although there are some restrictions that are associated with religion and traditions. For example, it is added to dishes, milkshakes are prepared from it. It is one of the five sacred plants that are mentioned in ancient Hindu texts. Marijuana is also used to treat various diseases and during religious ceremonies. Hindus are sure that Shiva also used marijuana.
India is a country of contrasts, in which people get along amazingly different religions and cultural traditions. At the same time, each culture and religion is distinguished by a unique set of customs and rituals, many of which, despite their wildness for any modern man, little studied and practically unknown outside of India. Some of these rituals are prohibited at the legislative level, but they still continue to be held in remote corners of the country from civilization. Consider the ten most shocking of them.
Jallikattu, or simply fighting bulls with bare hands. Before the fight, the bull is drugged with alcohol, and then red pepper is poured into his eyes to piss him off. Young people seeking recognition and glory are trying to subdue the bull, or at least keep it for quite a long time to receive a reward.
Kesh Lochan
This ritual consists of cutting off the hair and offering it to the god. At the same time, a person is often sheared bald. And, for example, the followers of Jainism do not easily cut off their hair, but pull it out with their own fingers. The custom symbolizes the renunciation of worldly pleasures and is intended to teach the monk humility.
A number of Hindu sects teach that ghosts or demons who have moved into human body afraid of white chickens. Therefore, priests sometimes sacrifice chickens and scatter parts of the bird's body around the house in order to “smoke out” the spirits that live in it.
Indians not only believe in the veracity of astrology and horoscopes, but are also guided by them in life. So, according to astrological teachings, some women are born under the sign of "mangal dosha". This sign is considered unfavorable and capable of endangering the life of the husband. To get rid of "mangal dosha", women are sometimes "married" to inanimate objects, such as trees. In some parts of India, marriage to animals is also practiced.
Madi Snana (Madey Snana)
As part of this ancient, but preserved to this day, ritual, members lower castes ride on the remnants of food left by the brahmins (the highest Indian caste). According to belief, it cures skin diseases.
Baby toss
This ritual is common among both Hindus and Muslims. The newborn is thrown from the roof of the temple, and the crowd below must catch the child on a stretched cloth. It is believed that the custom gives the child and his family good health and good luck.
During the South Indian festival of Garudan Thookkam, followers of the death goddess Kali hang themselves in the air. To do this, the skin on the back is pierced in several places with sharp hooks, and the person is suspended on ropes attached to a special platform. The roots of this custom go back to the legend according to which the supreme deity Vishnu sent Garuda to satisfy the hunger of Kali. Tom managed to satisfy the thirst of the goddess of death by sacrificing a few drops of his blood.
During this ritual human language pierced by a sharp needle. The steel or wooden needle used may be so long that it does not fit in the mouth, and therefore the tongue must be kept outward. At the same time, a person who plans to pierce the tongue, according to tradition, must wear a flower wreath around his neck the entire previous day. The ritual is widespread not only in India, but also far beyond its borders.
self-flagellation
Self-flagellation is common in many parts of the world, including India. For example, Muslims engage in self-flagellation during Muharram, the first month of the Muslim calendar, marking the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala, during which Imam Hussein ibn Ali and his 72 warriors were killed. Shiites mourn the death of the imam by scourge of their naked bodies with chains called matam. Sometimes knives or blades are attached to the chains. At the same time, the participants in self-flagellation declare that they do not feel pain from the blows, since during the process they enter a trance state.
Aghori sect practices
Adherents of the Hindu teachings Aghori worship the god of destruction Shiva. They can be found throughout India, but they are mainly concentrated near the sacred cities of Tarapit and Varanasi. Members of the sect are known for their rituals, one way or another associated with death. In particular, the Aghori cover themselves in the ashes of the dead and use human bones as utensils or ornaments. They also practice cannibalism (including eating meat long ago). dead people) and even necrophilia. According to Aghori beliefs, the soul of every person is the incarnation of Shiva, bound by eight great fetters called astamahapasha, which are sensual pleasure, anger, envy, greed, fear, hatred and other negative manifestations of human essence. Aghori practices are designed to remove these fetters from the soul of a dead person.
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I am almost sure that after watching this video, most people will discover India from a completely different perspective. In India, there are quite a few traditions and holidays that are not so widely known outside the country, but this does not make them any less shocking for most people.
For example, the Kumbh Mela holiday, which attracts a huge number of pilgrims from all over the country, including various ascetics and yogis, many of whom leave their shelters especially for this holiday. This holiday gathers a huge number of people, in 2007 70 million people took part in it.
Many participants demonstrate their abilities, some of which may seem strange to say the least.
But all this fades against the backdrop of the Aghori sect, whose life and rituals are beyond. The sect practices ritual cannibalism, in addition to this, sectarians drink the urine of animals, live on cremation sites, meditate, smeared with ashes from burning people.
Often they can be seen in the holy city of Varanasi near the Ganges River, where they catch burnt, half-decayed corpses to eat them later. You might think that this is a bunch of insane people who did not have enough space in a psychiatric hospital.
In fact, this is not so, this is a well-known sect in India, which is not prohibited by law, and, among other things, is engaged in charity. With their money, a hospital for lepers was built, where thousands of people were treated. In short, the essence of their religion is that everything in the world is a manifestation of God, both bad and good, high and low, and thus they comprehend it and go to it. It was in this sect that CNN host Reza Aslan visited and took part in ritual activities. First, Aslan was wiped with the ashes of a deceased person, and a crown of bones and jaws was put on his head. At the end, he was given a piece of the brain of the deceased roasted at the stake.
main organ of the central nervous system man, reminded him charcoal. After this, I again I come to the conclusion how the world around us is ambiguous and human psyche can perceive almost everything, much depends on what was originally laid in it.
